Shirley Scott
Encyclopedia
Shirley Scott was an American hard bop
and soul-jazz organist
. She was most known for working with her husband, Stanley Turrentine
, and with Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis. She was known as 'Queen of the Organ'.
, Scott was an admirer of Jimmy Smith
, and played piano
and trumpet
before moving to the Hammond organ
, her main instrument, though on occasion she still played piano. In the 1950s she became known for her work (1956–1959) with the saxophone
player Eddie Davis, particularly on the song "In the Kitchen". She was married to Stanley Turrentine
and played with him from 1960 to 1969. Later, she led her own group, mostly a trio. Saxophonist Harold Vick
often played with her.
In the 1980s, she became a jazz
educator and became a highly known and respected member of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
's jazz community.
Scott died of heart failure in 2002, which was hastened by the diet drug fen-phen
. Scott won an $8 million settlement in February 2000 against American Home Products, the manufacturers of the drug cocktail.
With Stanley Turrentine
Hard bop
Hard bop is a style of jazz that is an extension of bebop music. Journalists and record companies began using the term in the mid-1950s to describe a new current within jazz which incorporated influences from rhythm and blues, gospel music, and blues, especially in the saxophone and piano...
and soul-jazz organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
. She was most known for working with her husband, Stanley Turrentine
Stanley Turrentine
Stanley William Turrentine, also known as "Mr. T" or "The Sugar Man", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist.-Biography:Turrentine was born in Pittsburgh's Hill District into a musical family...
, and with Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis. She was known as 'Queen of the Organ'.
Biography
Born in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, Scott was an admirer of Jimmy Smith
Jimmy Smith (musician)
Jimmy Smith was a jazz musician whose performances on the Hammond B-3 electric organ helped to popularize this instrument...
, and played piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
before moving to the Hammond organ
Hammond organ
The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...
, her main instrument, though on occasion she still played piano. In the 1950s she became known for her work (1956–1959) with the saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
player Eddie Davis, particularly on the song "In the Kitchen". She was married to Stanley Turrentine
Stanley Turrentine
Stanley William Turrentine, also known as "Mr. T" or "The Sugar Man", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist.-Biography:Turrentine was born in Pittsburgh's Hill District into a musical family...
and played with him from 1960 to 1969. Later, she led her own group, mostly a trio. Saxophonist Harold Vick
Harold Vick
Harold Vick was an American hard bop and soul jazz saxophonist and flautist born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina....
often played with her.
In the 1980s, she became a jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
educator and became a highly known and respected member of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
's jazz community.
Scott died of heart failure in 2002, which was hastened by the diet drug fen-phen
Fen-phen
The drug combination fenfluramine/phentermine, usually called fen-phen, is an anti-obesity treatment that utilizes two anorectics. Fenfluramine, its S-enantiomer dexfenfluramine, and a few other serotonin agonists were shown to cause potentially fatal pulmonary hypertension and heart valve...
. Scott won an $8 million settlement in February 2000 against American Home Products, the manufacturers of the drug cocktail.
As leader
- 1958: Shirley's Sounds (Prestige Records) - with George DuvivierGeorge DuvivierGeorge Duvivier was an American jazz double-bass player.Duvivier was born in New York City and took up the cello and also the violin while in high school before settling on the bass. He also learned composition and scoring before going out on the road with Lucky Millinder and then with the Cab...
, George TuckerGeorge Tucker (musician)George Andrew Tucker was an American jazz double-bassist.Tucker attended the New York Conservatory of Modern Music, studying bass in the late 1940s. Early in his career he played with Earl Bostic, John Coltrane, and Jackie McLean...
, and Arthur Edgehill - 1958: Workin' (Prestige)
- 1959: Soul Searching (Prestige)
- 1960: Mucho, MuchoMucho, MuchoMucho, Mucho is a Latin-oriented jazz album by organist Shirley Scott recorded and released in 1960 on Prestige Records as PRLP 7182.- Track listing :#"The Lady Is a Tramp" - 9:41#"Muy Azul" - 7:27...
(Prestige) - 1961: Hip Soul (Prestige)
- 1961: Shirley Scott plays Horace Silver (Prestige)
- 1961: Blue SevenBlue SevenBlue Seven is a studio album by organist Shirley Scott recorded in 1961 for Prestige and issued in late 1965 as PRLP 7376. It features performances by Oliver Nelson and Joe Newman, among the others.- Track listing :#"Blue Seven" - 6:45...
(Prestige) - 1961: Hip Twist (Prestige)
- 1962: Sweet Soul (Prestige)
- 1963: The Soul Is WillingThe Soul Is WillingThe Soul Is Willing is a studio album by organist Shirley Scott recorded and released in 1963 for Prestige as PRLP 7267. It features famous saxophonist Stanley Turrentine...
(Prestige) - 1963: Soul Shoutin'Soul Shoutin'Soul Shoutin' is a studio album by organist Shirley Scott recorded in 1963 for Prestige and issued in early 1964 as PRLP 7312. It also features famous saxophonist Stanley Turrentine...
(Prestige) - 1964: Blue Flames (Prestige)
- 1963: For Members OnlyFor Members OnlyFor Members Only is an album by American jazz organist Shirley Scott recorded in 1963 for the Impulse! label.-Reception:The Allmusic review awarded the album 4½ stars.-Track listing:# "Southern Comfort" — 5:40...
(Impulse!) - 1964: Great Scott!!Great Scott!! (album)Great Scott!! is an album by American jazz organist Shirley Scott recorded in 1964 for the Impulse! label.-Reception:The Allmusic review awarded the album 4½ stars.-Track listing:All compositions by Shirley Scott except as indicated...
(Impulse!) - 1964: Everybody Loves a LoverEverybody Loves a Lover (album)Everybody Loves a Lover is an album by jazz organist Shirley Scott recorded for the Impuse! label in 1964 and performed by Scott with Stanley Turrentine, Bob Cranshaw and Otis Finch...
(Impulse!) - 1964: Queen of the OrganQueen of the OrganQueen of the Organ is a live album by American jazz organist Shirley Scott recorded in 1964 for the Impulse! label. The CD reissue added four additional performances from the same concert as bonus tracks.-Reception:...
(Impulse!) - 1965: Latin ShadowsLatin ShadowsLatin Shadows is an album by American jazz organist Shirley Scott recorded in 1965 for the Impulse! label.-Reception:The Allmusic review awarded the album 3 stars.-Track listing:# "Latin Shadows" - 3:13...
(Impulse!) - 1966: On a Clear DayOn a Clear Day (Shirley Scott album)On a Clear Day is an album by American jazz organist Shirley Scott recorded in 1966 for the Impulse! label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 4 stars stating "The music grooves and Scott shows that she did not need a competing horn in order to come up with soulful and...
(Impulse!) - 1966: Roll 'EmRoll 'Em: Shirley Scott Plays the Big BandsRoll 'Em: Shirley Scott Plays the Big Bands is an album by American jazz organist Shirley Scott recorded in 1966 for the Impulse! label.-Reception:...
(Impulse!) - 1967: Soul DuoSoul DuoSoul Duo is an album by American jazz organist Shirley Scott and flugelhornist Clark Terry recorded in 1966 for the Impulse! label.-Reception:...
(Impulse!) - 1967: Girl TalkGirl Talk (Shirley Scott album)Girl Talk is an album by American jazz organist Shirley Scott recorded in 1967 for the Impulse! label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Michael G...
(Impulse!) - 1968: Soul Song (Atlantic)
- 1970: Something (Atlantic)
- 1992: Blues Everywhere (Candid)
With Stanley Turrentine
Stanley Turrentine
Stanley William Turrentine, also known as "Mr. T" or "The Sugar Man", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist.-Biography:Turrentine was born in Pittsburgh's Hill District into a musical family...
- 1961: Dearly BelovedDearly Beloved (album)Dearly Beloved is an album by jazz saxophonist Stanley Turrentine recorded for the Blue Note label and performed by Turrentine with Shirley Scott, and Roy Brooks.-Reception:...
(Blue NoteBlue Note RecordsBlue Note Records is a jazz record label, established in 1939 by Alfred Lion and Max Margulis. Francis Wolff became involved shortly afterwards. It derives its name from the characteristic "blue notes" of jazz and the blues. At the end of the 1950s, and in the early 1960s, Blue Note headquarters...
) - 1963: Never Let Me GoNever Let Me Go (Stanley Turrentine album)Never Let Me Go is an album by jazz saxophonist Stanley Turrentine recorded for the Blue Note label and performed by Turrentine with Shirley Scott, Major Holley, Ray Barretto, and Al Harewood with Sam Jones and Clarence Johnston replacing Holley, Barretto and Harewood on two tracks.- Reception :The...
(Blue Note) - 1963: A Chip Off the Old BlockA Chip Off the Old Block (album)A Chip off the Old Block is an album of tunes associated with Count Basie by jazz saxophonist Stanley Turrentine recorded for the Blue Note label and performed by Turrentine with Shirley Scott, Blue Mitchell, Earl May, and Al Harewood with Tom McIntosh and Charles Davis added on two tracks.-...
(Blue Note) - 1964: Hustlin' (Blue Note)
- 1966: Let It GoLet It Go (Stanley Turrentine album)Let It Go is an album by jazz saxophonist Stanley Turrentine recorded for the Impuse! label in 1966 and performed by Turrentine with Shirley Scott, Ron Carter, and Mack Simpkins...
(Impulse!) - 1968: Common TouchCommon TouchCommon Touch is an album by jazz saxophonist Stanley Turrentine featuring Shirley Scott recorded for the Blue Note label in 1968 and performed by Turrentine with Shirley Scott, Jimmy Ponder, Bob Cranshaw and Leo Morris.-Reception:...
(Blue Note)
As sidewoman
- 1957: Count Basie presents the Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis trio (Roulette)
- 1958: Joe Newman Soft swingin' jazz (Coral)
- 1958: The Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Cookbook Vols. 1&2 (Prestige 7141 & 7161)
- 1958: The Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis trio (Roost)
- 1958: The Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis trio (Roulette)
- 1977: Al Grey Live at Travelers lounge (Travelers)
- 1981: Al Grey / Jimmy Forrest quintet Live at Rick's (Aviva)
External links
- [ All Music discography]
- Shirley Scott discography by Doug Payne
- BBC Radio 2
- Shirley Scott's last filmed public performance, playing with Joey DeFrancescoJoey DeFrancescoJoey DeFrancesco is an American jazz organist, trumpeter, and vocalist. Down Beat's Critics and Readers Poll selected him as the top jazz organist every year since 2003.DeFrancesco was born in Springfield, Pennsylvania...
at an organ summit in her honor in 1999.